CHAPTER IX 



An Egg Plant for Profit 



I will now tell you how to run a large poultry plant 

 for the greatest possible profit. This will require more 

 labor, but will pay the most profit, labor considered, 

 of anything I know of at the present time. I have ex- 

 perimented to my entire satisfaction that fowls, to be 

 kept in perfect healthy condition, should have free ac- 

 cess to feed at all times, and they will lay fully one- 

 third to one-half more eggs a year — and eggs that will 

 hatch, for they will be produced nature's way. 



I have found nothing so good as good quality wheat 

 screenings to be kept before them at all times. So you 

 must keep a hopper of wheat screenings always before 

 them ; also one of beef scraps ; and they should also have 

 grit, oyster shells and charcoal before them at all times. 

 Now, if possible, in order to get your great profit, you 

 must have a free-range plant, such as I have described, 

 and it should be a leghorn plant, and of all the leghorn 

 family there is none that will produce you more eggs 

 and larger, finer eggs than the single-combed White Leg- 

 horns. 



I am positive an average of 200 eggs a hen can be 

 produced under this system of feeding and caring for 

 them. 



One good man could care for five thousand layers 

 during the summer, providing some one cared for the 

 marketing of the eggs. But for winter care, say from 

 November i to April i, it would keep two men busy, 

 for my aim here is to tell you how to produce eggs the 

 year round in the greatest possible number. 



I will begin with the winter care, say November i, 

 when your stock should all be properly housed in the 

 colony houses I have told you how to build. We will 



23 



